Re: Gemini-2 momentarily went haywire
|
>>>
We already know the major cause of damage is a rotated DIN connector insertion.??
Keys were added to the Gemini 2 nearly a decade ago, so this is not an issue with Gemini 2
John,
The Gemini-1 are generally repairable.? The unit has a board that was designed in the day when the chips were larger and their leads were spaced out so a skilled person could de-solder the old chip and re-solder a new chip.? If your unit shows trouble, I can attempt a repair.? Bren Smith in Australia and David Partridge in UK are experts in G1 and G2 repairs.??
The Gemini-2 is modern.? It's small board has fewer, faster chips with tiny lead spaces.? Brendan Smith in Australia is most expert at these repairs.? However I've never encountered any G-2 needing repair.??
As I said, the first step when you do encounter trouble is to use the ability of the Gemini system to swap RA and DEC parts: the cables, the motors, to assess what is truly damaged.? Then replace or try a repair.??
Certainly contact the factory so they can track what components are failing most of the time.? In a later design someone can engineer a way to protect the parts from major damage.? That would have to be inside the Gemini unit to protect it's optical sensor detector chip.? That's the $1000 value unit.
A motor is $225.? Also expensive and needs the optical encoder protected from anything over 5.2 volts probably.? That can be done too inside on the motor board.??
Can a protection mechanism be designed to be in the cable?? That is a good engineering challenge.? ?We already know the major cause of damage is a rotated DIN connector insertion.? Some electronics in the cable might save the day ... or ...?
A great homework problem for electronics experts!
As I mentioned, an ounce of prevention (label the cable ends for pennies) is worth a pound of cure ($1000 Gemini replacement)
Stay well, all.??
Michael
Thanks, Michael.
?
In my case it is the Gemini 2 output, but I don't suppose the encoder detector is something that could be replaced. I don't have the G-2 open right now but I kind of remember all the chips are flush mounted on the board and micro-soldered. So it's replace the whole board or nothing I assume. I'll have to see what HGM has to say.
Best regards,
John
-- Brian?
Brian Valente portfolio
|
